Our pets can't always tell us where it hurts and they can develop conditions which may go unnoticed until it is too late. We encourage yearly thorough physical exams and lab work for early detection of illnesses which could become serious or even fatal if left untreated.

Metabolic Profiles are also recommended for our older patients. These lab tests may detect abnormalities not routinely found on physical exam.
Here is a breakdown of critical diagnostic tests we recommend annually to ensure your pet is healthy on the inside as well on the outside.

Heartworm Test - We collect a small sample of your dog's blood to test for heartworms, which can be fatal. Heartworm disease is caused from the bite of an infected mosquito. Even dogs that stay indoors are susceptible since mosquitoes can enter homes and bite an unprotected pet. Heartworm preventative is required year-round and it is critical do do this blood test annually, as even one missed or late dose of preventative can put them at risk for heartworm disease.

Complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry panel - Symptoms of some conditions or diseases don't show up until your pet is very sick. That is why we test your pet's blood annually with wellness bloodwork to detect and try to prevent disease as early as possible. Once again only a small sample of blood is needed. These blood tests tell us whether your pet is anemic (not enough red blood cells) or fighting infection. The tests also tell us whether internal organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning properly. Treatable diseases such as thyroid and diabetes can be detected with these tests.

Fecal Exam - We check your pet's stool once a year for signs of intestinal disease and internal parasites. We examine the stool for outward signs of disease - blood, mucus and abnormal consistency or color and then perform a fecal flotation procedure under a microscope which is the best way to uncover the presence of the most common internal parasites (roundworms, hookworms or whipworms) which can be a threat to humans as well.

Urinalysis - Like the wellness bloodwork, a urine test gives us an understanding of how healthy your pet is on the inside. Urinalysis offers clues that point to the underlying causes of disease, such as a bladder infection, kidney disease or diabetes. With the results of this test and the blood tests, we have a picture of your pet's internal health and be well on our way to detecting disease as early as possible.

Lyme Test - Like the heartworm test, we collect a small amount of blood from your dog to test for Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by a spiral shaped bacterium named Borrelia bergdorferi which is spread by the bite of a tick and may prove fatal. Once we have a negative result of the Lyme test, we recommend vaccinating against the disease. Dogs testing positive for Lyme disease are put on a four week course of antibiotics.

Feline Leukemia Virus Test - We collect a small amount of blood from your cat to test for Feline Leukemia. Feline Leukemia is a retrovirus that infects cats. It can be transmitted from infected cats through the transfer of of saliva (cat bite) or nasal secretions (sneeze) and can be fatal. If the blood test comes back negative for Feline Leukemia, we recommend vaccinating against the disease for indoor/outdoor cats.